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Asian Carp Research Paper

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In the 1970’s man introduced the Asian Carp (Cyprinus carpio) to the Great Lake region. Their introduction was done primarily as a form of management of aqua culture farms and sewage treatment areas (Watershed Council). The fish were under controlled populations until record floods occurred in the upper Mississippi River system. Once the flooding occurred the species began to spread and destroy the native populations of fish and other aquatic animals.

The Carp having not been native to the Great lakes region have the upper hand on the native species. By there being no natural predators located in this region let alone this hemisphere, the carp have been able to flourish in mass numbers. Their large size and abilities to reproduce up to 2.2 million have been able to decimate the natural population (Cooke, S.L). The Carp can grow up to a weight of 100 pounds and up to 4 feet long. The Sturgeon a fish that can exceed 6 feet in length and grow up to 100 pounds is the largest native fish in the region of the Great Lakes. The Sturgeons size is impressive and is able to compete with that of the Carps but that is only in a select few. The average size for the Sturgeon is anywhere between 28-48 inches and 5-36 pounds (Great Lakes fishers). This makes them smaller and capable of easily being over …show more content…

Since they were introduced back in the 70’s to help with waste treatment it would be safe to gather that they are bottom feeders like the Catfish here in North Texas lakes that we are more familiar with. The Carp are in fact filter feeders and need algae to maintain larger populations (Response in the Midwest). There is fear among officials that the Carp are capable of adapting their dietary needs and will begin to prey on smaller local fish that come in from the rivers and streams that feeds the Great

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